That a certain preference manifested itself in Italy, during the greater part of the sixteenth century, and among certain individuals interested in geographical and astronomical matters, in engraved metal globes or in globes with manuscript maps, has been previously noted. An argument frequently advanced in opposition to that favoring the use of printed maps was that the manuscript globe could the more easily be made of large size, indeed could easily be made of any desirable size. The later years of the seventeenth century furnish us with excellent examples in proof that a preference for such globes lingered in certain circles in the peninsula. Carlo Benci (1616-1676), a Silvestrian monk, born in the Tuscan town of Montepulciano, may be named as one of the foremost among the manuscript globe makers of the period.[72] At the age of twenty-one he entered the monastery of S. Benedetto of Fabriano, receiving in the ceremony attending his admission the name D. Doroteo. One year later we find him in the monastery of S. Giovanni in Montepulciano, and in the year 1652 in the convent of S. Stefano del Cacco of Rome, on entering which he changed his name to D. Carlo Benci, we are told, attained to a place of eminence among men of learning in Italy on account of his philosophical and theological studies. In the year 1645 he was chosen for an administrative office in his order, and later he successively became sacristan, curate prior, and titular abbé of S. Bonifazio near Cingoli in the Marche, retaining to the end of his life the headship of the parish of S. Stefano. To his fame as philosopher and theologian he seems to have added that of expert cosmographer, winning through the wide extent of his interests the special favor of Pope Clement X, who selected him as his spiritual adviser. It must be noted, however, that his name nowhere appears especially conspicuous among contemporary writers on philosophical, theological or scientific subjects, and we have only the tangible evidence of his cosmographical interests in a fine pair of globes constructed in the year 1671, now belonging to Prince D. Camillo Massimo of Rome. These globes have a diameter of about 1 m. and still retain the greater part of their original mounting, which, in each, consists of a meridian circle (this in the terrestrial globe is modern) not graduated, within which they are adjusted to revolve on their equatorial polar axes, of a horizon band, likewise not graduated, being circular on the inner edge, but octagonal on the outer, the whole being supported by four turned legs joined by crossbars at their lower extremities. Both spheres are of papier-mâché and are well preserved, the terrestrial having suffered slightly more injury than the celestial. The spheres are covered with somewhat irregular pieces of paper, though carefully matched, which are yellow with age. On this paper surface the maps terrestrial and celestial were drawn with a stylus.